Sonifex RB-SP1 Digital Splitter & Combiner

The RB-SP1 Digital Splitter & Combiner is a 1U rack-mount unit used to interface various double sampling pieces of equipment.

Some older equipment uses 2 AES/EBU connectors for double sampling with each connector carrying an audio signal at a normal frame rate, whilst other equipment has a single connector using twice the frame rate.

The RB-SP1 can interface between them, either combining the signals from 2 XLR's into 1, or splitting the signal from 1 XLR into 2.

The RB-SP1 can also be used for interfacing stereo and mono signals to digital mixing desks by splitting the left and right signals of a stereo XLR to two separate XLRs, and vice versa by combining them.

Additionally, a sample rate converter on the second digital input can be used to synchronize or convert the sample rate of the secondary input to that of the primary input.

The RB-SP1 can handle sample rates up to 96kHz and bit-rates of 16, 20 and 24 bit.

Both inputs and outputs can be selected as either AES/EBU or S/PDIF.

There are two types of operation : Split 96, and Stereo/Mono. These each have three different switch modes : Split, Combine and Bypass.
Split 96 - This is a method that allows older equipment to handle 48kHz double sampled (96kHz) digital signals.

To do this, Split 96 uses two digital signals running at 48kHz, where both sub-frames of a single 48kHz stream are used to carry information about a mono signal, with the resultant signal of both 48kHz streams being equivalent to a stereo 96kHz signal.

The unit will also perform the same function for 88.2kHz stereo and 44.1kHz double sampled signals.

In Split Mode a single stereo 96kHz signal is received into input 1 which is then output as two separate 48kHz signals.

In Combine Mode two 48kHz double sampled input signals are combined to create a single 96kHz signal on output 1.

Stereo/Mono - This allows a digital stereo signal to be separated into two digital mono signals and vice-versa.

In Split Mode a single stereo signal is routed to two mono outputs.

In Combine Mode two mono signals are combined to create a single stereo signal.